4-Point Inspections in Charleston, Summerville & the Lowcountry
Has your insurance company requested a 4-point inspection? A 4-point inspection provides focused documentation of four major systems in your home: the roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems. Get an experienced, licensed Certified Master Inspector® on your side. Patriot Home Inspections provides professional 4-point inspections, clear photo documentation, easy scheduling, and reports designed to provide the information your insurance company needs.
Insurance companies may request a 4-point inspection when you purchase a homeowners policy, change insurance carriers, or renew coverage, particularly for older homes. Unlike a full home inspection, a 4-point inspection has a very specific purpose. It focuses on the condition, age, type, and visible characteristics of four systems that are particularly important to insurance underwriting.
What Is a 4-Point Inspection?
A 4-point inspection provides your insurance company with information about your roofing, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems so the carrier can evaluate the property as part of its underwriting process. These inspections are commonly requested for primary residences that are 40 years old or older and rental properties that are 30 years old or older, although requirements vary by insurance carrier.
Depending on the insurer, the report may document items such as roof covering type and approximate age, electrical service and panel information, visible plumbing materials, water-heating equipment, HVAC equipment, and the general condition of these systems.
A 4-point inspection is not a complete home inspection. It is specifically focused on the four systems requested for insurance purposes.
What to Expect
Why Is My Insurance Company Asking for a 4-Point Inspection?
Insurance companies evaluate the likelihood of future claims when deciding whether to insure a property. As homes age, roofing, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems can present increased risk if they are deteriorated, outdated, damaged, or approaching the end of their expected service life.
A 4-point inspection gives the insurance carrier current information about these systems rather than relying solely on the age of the home.
Your insurance company may request an inspection when:
Purchasing a homeowners insurance policy
Changing insurance carriers
Renewing an existing policy
Insuring an older home
Additional documentation is needed for underwriting
Requirements vary between insurance companies, so always confirm exactly what your carrier needs before scheduling.
Our goal is simple: make the 4-point inspection process easy and provide the documentation your insurance company needs without unnecessary delays.
A 4-Point Is Not a Full Home Inspection
This distinction is especially important if you’re buying a home. A 4-point inspection evaluates only the four systems requested by the insurance company. It does not provide the comprehensive evaluation you would receive with a buyer home inspection.
Components such as the foundation, structure, exterior, interior, windows, doors, appliances, attic, insulation, drainage, and many other areas may fall outside the scope of a standalone 4-point inspection.
If you’re purchasing the property, we recommend a complete buyer home inspection in addition to any insurance inspection required by your carrier.
Inspection Coverage
The Four Systems We Inspect
A focused evaluation and documentation of the roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems for insurance underwriting purposes.
ROOFING
Roof SystemWe document the roof covering type, approximate age when available, visible condition, signs of damage or deterioration, and evidence of active or previous leakage. Accessible flashing, penetrations and other roof components are evaluated to help document the roof’s overall condition and remaining serviceability for insurance underwriting.
ELECTRICAL
Electrical SystemWe document the electrical service, main panel and subpanels, amperage, panel manufacturer, visible wiring types, and readily observable system conditions. We also look for concerns commonly relevant to insurance underwriting, including outdated equipment, exposed wiring, improper modifications, and other visible electrical hazards.
PLUMBING
Plumbing SystemWe document visible water supply and drain piping materials, water heater type and approximate age, plumbing fixtures, and accessible connections. The inspection also looks for visible leakage, deterioration, corrosion, and other plumbing conditions that may increase the potential for water damage or require additional evaluation.
HVAC
Heating & CoolingWe document the home’s heating and cooling equipment, system type, approximate age when available, energy source, and visible condition. Equipment is operated using normal controls when conditions permit to determine whether the systems respond and provide basic documentation of their condition for insurance underwriting.
Your Report
Clear Documentation for Your Insurance Company
After the inspection, you’ll receive a digital report documenting the four major systems evaluated during the inspection.
The report includes photographs and information about the visible condition and characteristics of the roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems.
Depending on the property and insurer’s requirements, documentation may include:
Roof covering type and approximate age
Electrical service and panel information
Visible wiring materials
Plumbing supply and drain materials
Water heater information
HVAC equipment type and approximate age
Visible system conditions
Supporting photographs
The purpose of the report is to provide factual information about the property. Your insurance company ultimately determines whether the home meets its underwriting requirements.
Photo Documentation
Important components and system information are documented with clear photographs.
System Information
Relevant ages, materials, equipment, and visible conditions are documented when available.
Clear Reporting
Information is organized so you and your insurance provider can easily review the inspection findings.
Delivered Within 24 Hours
Your digital report is accessible from your phone, tablet, or computer.
Client Attendance
Do I Need to Be There?
You are welcome to attend your 4-point inspection, but attendance usually isn’t necessary. If you cannot attend, access to the interior of the home will need to be arranged in advance.
Because this is a focused inspection of four specific systems, many homeowners simply arrange access to the property and receive the completed report afterward.
Before the inspection, please make sure we can access:
Electrical panels
Water Heater
HVAC Equipment
Attic access when needed
Plumbing fixtures and accessible piping
Exterior areas around the home
Crawlspace access when needed
If your insurance company or agent has provided a specific inspection form, please send it to us before the appointment so we can review their requirements.
Can’t attend? That’s not a problem. Your completed report and photographs will document the information collected during the inspection.
local 4-point inspections
4-Point Inspections Across the Charleston Area
Professional 4-point inspections for homeowners and homebuyers throughout Charleston, Summerville and surrounding Lowcountry communities.
Whether you’re purchasing an older home, changing insurance carriers, or renewing your existing policy, we provide 4-point inspections throughout Summerville with clear documentation of the roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems.
Insurance requirements can change as homes age or policies are renewed. We provide 4-point inspections throughout Mount Pleasant with photographs and documentation of roofing, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems.
If your insurance company has requested updated information about your home, a 4-point inspection provides focused documentation of the roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems for underwriting review.
With a wide range of older and newer housing, North Charleston homeowners may encounter 4-point inspection requirements when obtaining or renewing coverage. We provide the system information and photographs requested for underwriting.
Charleston’s housing includes homes spanning generations of construction and building materials. We provide focused 4-point inspections to document the four major systems your insurance carrier may need to evaluate.
West Ashley includes many established homes where insurers may request additional information before issuing or renewing coverage. Our 4-point inspections document the home’s four major systems with clear photo-supported reporting.
4-Point inspection faq
What Homeowners Ask About 4-Point Inspections
Answers to common questions about insurance requirements, inspection coverage, reports, and what to expect.
Why does my insurance company need a 4-point inspection?
Insurance companies use the information to evaluate the condition and characteristics of major systems that could contribute to future insurance claims. Requirements vary by carrier and are often associated with older homes, policy changes, or renewals.
Is a 4-point inspection the same as a home inspection?
No. A 4-point inspection has a limited scope and focuses only on roofing, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. A full home inspection evaluates many additional systems and components throughout the property.
Can I use a 4-point inspection instead of a buyer home inspection?
We don’t recommend it. If you’re purchasing a home, the 4-point inspection may provide information your insurance company needs, but it leaves many components of the property outside its scope. A complete buyer home inspection provides a much broader evaluation.
Can a home fail a 4-point inspection?
We don’t pass or fail the home. We document the systems and conditions observed during the inspection. Your insurance company reviews that information and determines whether the property meets its underwriting requirements.
Does every insurance company require the same information?
No. Requirements can vary between insurance carriers. If your insurer or insurance agent provides a specific form or documentation requirements, send them to us before the inspection whenever possible.
How long does a 4-point inspection take?
Most 4-point inspections take approximately 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the property, accessibility of the systems, and documentation required by the insurance carrier.
What happens if you find a problem?
The condition will be documented in the report. Your insurance company may request additional information, repairs, replacement, or other action before providing coverage. Those decisions are made by the insurance carrier, not the inspector.
How much does a 4-point inspection cost?
A standalone 4-point inspection starts at $150, depending on the size, age, number of systems, and location of the property. If you’re already scheduling a full home inspection, ask about adding a 4-point inspection to your appointment at a reduced rate. Call 843-386-9100 for pricing and availability.
Where We Work
Serving Summerville, Charleston, & The Lowcountry
Professional home inspections throughout the Summerville, Charleston and the Lowcountry including Dorchester, Charleston, Berkeley, and Colleton counties.
Daniel Island
Serving Charleston’s island community
James Island
Serving the Charleston peninsula gateway
Johns Island
Serving rural and coastal communities
West Ashley
Serving communities west of the Ashley
Charleston
Serving the historic Charleston peninsula
Mount Pleasant
Serving communities east of the Cooper
North Charleston
Serving the greater North Charleston area
Moncks Corner
Serving Berkeley County communities
Hanahan
Serving central Berkeley County
Goose Creek
Serving growing Berkeley County communities
Summerville
Serving the heart of the Lowcountry
What We Offer
Our Home Inspection Services
Professional Inspections for Buyers, Sellers, and Homeowners. Patriot Home Inspections offers a range of inspection services designed to help clients understand the true condition of a property.
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Inspection and documentation to verify the foundation meets HUD, FHA, and VA permanent foundation guidelines required by many lenders.
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